Fuel stations must opt for automatic, self-cleaning toilets

Muscat: Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) has urged owners of fuel filling stations and fuel products marketing companies to pay attention to providing basic public facilities such as toilets and others.

“Owners of filling stations must provide the best services, especially keeping in mind the needs of tourists, by adhering to the regulations in place for the establishment of filling stations.”

MoCIIP said that traditional toilets (restrooms) shall be replaced with automatic or self-cleaning toilets and these projects have been already implemented at some fuel stations. There has been an agreement between one of the companies and the companies involved in supplying such automated toilets.

The ministry said it has been conducting inspections of filling stations to ensure that they provide the best services keeping in mind the number of tourists who come to the country.

The ministry indicated that during inspection visits to the fuel filling stations it ensures that the following facilities are functional – toilets, air filling machines, car wash centers and foodstuff stores

When establishing new fuel filling stations on highways, the projects must include basic public utilities (a prayer room for both men and women, a commercial building with a restaurant or café, a shop, public toilets, a pharmacy, ATMs, car wash facility, an information desk, primary mechanical services, parking, parking spaces for the disabled.

The ministry also called for the establishment of rest houses and lodges on roads used for long drives for the benefit of all motorists and travelers, including tourists.

The statistics provided by MoCIIP said the number of commercial fuel filling stations in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman was 660, including five that were opened in 2021.

These stations are operated by Omanoil, Al Maha Company, Oman Shell Company, and the Hormuz Energy Company.

It added 12 temporary licenses were issued last year, some of these projects are their implementation stages in various governorates. The ministry also said that 28 applications were received last year.

MoCIIP said that most of these fuel stations are situated in the governorates of Muscat and North al Batinah mainly because of the population density and economic activities.

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